Is the continuous two-stage anaerobic digestion process well suited for all substrates?

Publication Type: Journal contribution (peer reviewed)
Authors: Lindner, J.; Zielonka, S.; Oechsner, H.; Lemmer, A.
Year of publication: 2016
Published in: Bioresource Technology
Pubisher: Elsevier Ltd
Band/Volume: 200/
ISBN / ISSN / eISSN: 09608524
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.052
Page (from - to): 470-476
Keywords: zwei-phasig

Abstract

Two-stage anaerobic digestion systems are often considered to be advantageous compared to one-stage processes. Although process conditions and fermenter setups are well examined, overall substrate degradation in these systems is controversially discussed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how substrates with different fibre and sugar contents (hay/straw, maize silage, sugar beet) influence the degradation rate and methane production. Intermediates and gas compositions, as well as methane yields and VS-degradation degrees were recorded. The sugar beet substrate lead to a higher pH-value drop 5.67 in the acidification reactor, which resulted in a six time higher hydrogen production in comparison to the hay/straw substrate (pH-value drop 5.34). As the achieved yields in the two-stage system showed a difference of 70.6% for the hay/straw substrate, and only 7.8% for the sugar beet substrate. Therefore two-stage systems seem to be only recommendable for digesting sugar rich substrates. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Involved persons

Involved institutions

State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy

Projects in the course of the publication

Entwicklung von Sensortechnik und Grundlagen einer flexiblen lastabhängigen Steuerung der Intermediatbildung in zweiphasigen Biogasprozessen unter Berücksichtigung einer vollständigen Substratausnutzung (Elast2P)